Twelve Lies I Told Shingen Takeda

Chapter 15: A Kitsune's Advice

I ducked into an alley next to Susumu's restaurant and climbed onto the roof. Even at this late hour, it smelled faintly of fish. Grateful that I had previously taken the time to memorize the rooftop routes throughout the town, I made my way back to the Inn. Silently, slowly, I picked my way along the roofline until I reached the side overlooking the courtyard. Shingen's clothing was already gone from the dry garden, so he must have grabbed them. Or, Mitsuhide had.

While I doubted that Mitsuhide and Shingen would attack each other, I wanted to stay within earshot as a precaution. That, and if the two of them compared notes, I needed to know what Mitsuhide said about me in case it would require damage control tomorrow. Mitsuhide was aware I was living in Kasugayama dressed as boy. Would he keep that a secret?

Shingen and Mitsuhide's voices carried clearly in the night air. They sounded... while not friendly, but at least, somewhat polite. A little polite. Borderline polite. Not actively trying to bring about each other's death.

"—what are you really doing in Kasugayama?" Shingen asked. I imagined him grabbing Mitsuhide by the collar – but that was more than likely wish fulfillment.

"Exactly what I told our, er, nameless friend. Confirming that the attack on our vassals had nothing to do with your Akazonae." Mitsuhide sounded bored with the whole thing (and not at all like he'd been grabbed by the collar. So much for that wish.)

"You ought to have known that without coming all this way." Shingen said.

Agreed, I thought, shifting position so I could be more comfortable while I listened. In the process, I accidentally kicked a stone – but I caught it before it could roll off the roof and make a noise.

"One never knows what can be learned by making these little detours here and there." Mitsuhide said. "Someone seems fairly determined to stir things up between our clans. I thought it prudent to see if similar attacks were taking place here. Word got to me that someone attacked you last month."

"Word got to you? Via that nameless friend? Is she one of your spies?" There was a note in Shingen's voice that I couldn't identify, and I wished I could see his face. Obviously, he hadn't believed me when I said I didn't work for Mitsuhide. Shit. If he ever discovers that "Angel" and "Katsu" are the same person... I closed my eyes for a moment against the anxiety that turned my stomach into a churning mess. He would be furious. He might possibly kill me. He would certainly despise me – and that would be worse. At least killing would be quick.

After tonight, "Angel" must never be seen in Kasugayama again.

In fact, maybe it was better that Shingen was treating "Katsu" more distantly. Safer if I stayed the shadow who slipped in, grabbed the messages, and slipped out again.

"I'm not the one with a legion of female operatives." I pictured Mitsuhide examining his fingernails as he said that.

"That was not a denial," Shingen said. He sounded like he was moving around. The rustle of clothing indicated he was getting dressed.

"I'll be clearer then. That one is definitely not one of mine." Mitsuhide didn't have to sound so horrified about the idea.

"Do you know where she came from? Or where I can find her?" Shingen's voice sounded closer. I heard his, and Mitsuhide's feet pad across the tatami mats.

Then Mitsuhide stepped out into the courtyard. He took a few steps out and glanced up, nodding to himself when he spotted me sitting on the roof. He tapped his nose.

As I tried to melt into the darkness of the roof, feeling grateful for once, for that dark brown kimono, I mimed "hands over mouth."

Mitsuhide only smiled. "Oh, I imagine she's hanging around somewhere."